Two Major Roads RepairedAs part of a programme of road and pathway works in the ward, as funds permit of course, local ward councillors in Rochester South & Horsted had arranged for a number of such works to be done. The most recent major roadworks have been the bad stretch (the southern end from Pattens Lane to Horsted Way/Maidstone Road) of City Way, and Snodhurst Avenue. The northern end of City Way will be done after the gas pipe laying work has been completed, and only after more urgent work elsewhere has been done. This should be early in 2007, but might have to wait until the spring.
Although another ward's members are claiming credit for the City Way work, this was arranged (and is on record as such) long before they started their petition. Their wish to have to non-urgent northern stretch of City Way done at this time is inappropriate, and will take funds away from other, more urgent, roadworks elsewhere in Medway. This could easily have waited a year or two.
Both of these roads now have the excellent quiet new surface that we have started applying to other roads in the ward, and a hard-wearing foundation that should make these roads last for many years before needing anything more than minor repairs.
Several minor roads and some footpaths have also had good work done as a result of councillors' actions, including City Way's footpath along one stretch. A second phase is due to start later this month.
Next year we plan to have Arethusa Road (including the footways) completely done to the same standard as these two roads, but only after all the building work at the schools and nursery is complete, and of course during the schools' summer holiday period, to minimise disruption.